PokémonGO craze gets players out in the streets across region

Joseph Keith

Pokémon fans are hunting for their favourite creatures after a new mobile game was officially released today (Friday).

Heritage sites, shopping centres and streets across the region have been swarmed by players hoping to catch ‘em all.

The free-to-play augmented reality game, available from Google Play or the Apple Store, lets players catch Pokémon in real life.

But demand for the new game delayed its release in the UK after a server crash.

The release has revived the craze for the Nintendo game, which rose to popularity when millions of people played its first instalment on the Game Boy console in the late 1990s. Its franchise soon expanded to include a number of game sequels, a trading card game, merchandise and films.

Users can scan their area using mobile devices in an attempt to find Wild Pokémon, before throwing a Pokéball to catch them if they’re lucky.

A Nidoran Pok�mon. (Photo: Laura Wraith).

Players have already reported catching a haul of rare creatures in West Yorkshire, at designated Pokéstops - where users are directed to find new Pokémon.

They have been posting on social media about their searches for Pokémon.

Lucy Kate said: “@shaw_mollie just confessed she drove to brighouse from Illingworth tonight just to try catch some Pokemon, she didn’t find any.”

Mr Bearded Bear said: “Just being in asda and all over Batley and Huddersfield hunting #pokemon”

The popular Pikachu Pok�mon (Photo: Lee Piekarski)

In Wakefield, Trinity Walk Shopping Centre has three Pokéstops for people to chance their luck.

And in Pontefract, the town’s Pontefract Castle has had a surge of visitors trying to catch Pokémon since its release.

Mr F ‏said: “Security at Pontefract Castle had to go out six times already tonight for intruder alarm. Told guy suspected it was Pokemon Go.”